264 BKIEF JNdUIKY INTO THE [cil. VI.

every religious principle which had been used to
attract the veneration of mankind ; the representa-
tives of a whole nation publicly witnessing, not only
without horror, but without the smallest disappro-
bation, an open unqualified denial of the very
existence of God; and at length, as a body,
withdrawing their allegiance from the Majesty of
Heaven.

There are not a few, perhaps, who may have wit-
" nessed with apprehension, and may be ready to con-
Objection, &ss with pain, the gradual declension of
that ttie' religion; but who at the same time may
author's conceive that the writer of this tract is
loo^sina; disposed to carry things too far. They
and that', may even allege, that the degree of re-
if it were ljgion for which he contends is incon-
S/wwS* sistent with the ordinary business of life,
could not and with the well-being of society; that
9° on- if it were generally to prevail, people would
be wholly engrossed by religion, and all their time
occupied by prayer and preaching. Men not being-
sufficiently interested in the pursuit of temporal
objects, agriculture and commerce would decline,
the arts would languish, the very duties of common
life would be neglected; and, in short, the whole
machine of civil society would be obstructed, and
speedily stopped. An opening for this charge is
given by an ingenious writer * alluded to in an
early period of our work; and is even somewhat
countenanced by an author since referred to, from
whom such a sentiment justly excites more surprise*.

In reply to this objection it might be urged, that
though we should allow it for a moment to be in a
Tk oharge considerable degree well founded, yet this
refuted. admission would not warrant the couclu-

1 Soame Jenyns. a Palcy's Evidence.